Design Notes

On hot summer days there are few things, short of a swimming pool, that can cool you off better than a frozen popsicle. With the recent resurgence in nostalgia, the homemade frozen ice drink on a stick is as popular today it was in the 70s. Even the NY Times wrote a recent article ranking “The Best Popsicle Molds”.

Homewares is a category that leads the way with iconic designs that merge style and substance. Brands like Dyson, Smeg, Bialetti, Aga, KitchenAid, Le Creuset, Cath Kidston and Cuisinart. Then there is Alessi - creating happiness, taking risks, and transcending function with every new collection and product.

If you think there's no taste difference between filtered and unfiltered water, then try the Brita ‘tea test’. In 1966, Brita founder Heinz Hankammer, came up with the idea of a tea test to convince people of the improved taste of tap water after being filtered. It must work because Brita is now the world's most famous filtered water brand. 

The 70s are back in vogue. Seventies design was fun and sexy but still sophisticated. 70s style has inherent cheerfulness which gives much-needed relief amid the heavy weight of extraordinarily stressful times. It's natural we want little pops of retro colour and charm in our homes as reminders of simpler times.

Before buying your next chopping board, have a quick read of English children’s book, Babes in the Wood. A cautionary tale of the danger that lies beneath the surface. Plastic chopping boards are a petridish of potential infection, whereas wood boards magically vanquish these villians.

There’s no one perfect knife but for my money, German knife brand Henckels are as welll engineered as the Porsche. Founded in 1731, Henckels is the oldest kitchen knife manufacturers in the world for domestic and professional use. You can have all the fancy appliances, yet a blunt kitchen knife can dull the joy of cooking.